Chiedza Vol 9 No 2 African Perspective on Development and Global Order

Abstract

If nationalism was one of the most significant political developments that characterised world political discourse in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, it is important in these early years of the twenty-first century, to question and rethink nationalism• s place in the past in our attempts to understand our present and to construct our future. To this end, this edition of Chiedza is devoted to a critique of nationalism and the many issues that accompany and characterise it. Nationalism in Africa, it is argued, is riddled with contradictions. On the one hand, as an ideology and strategy, sentiment and movement, it undoubtedly contributed to the fall of the European empires. On the other band, nationalism failed to create the stable nation-states that should have grown out of the collapse of these empires. When an idea, an ideology. a strategy fails, we are compelled to seek adequate explanations as to why the intended effects did not materialise. Though mindful of George Santayana's insight that those who cannot remember history are condemned to repeat it, we rethink nationalism not because of fear of condemnation, but that through rethinking the project of nationalism, we can arrive at some insights in our many attempts to construct a different future in the twenty-first century. Nationalism as a subject is complex, bewildering and divisive politically. The very different essays by our contributors are testimony to the multifacetedness of the subject. It is no surprise that the subject in this edition of Chiedza has been approached from historical, political, cultura1, and philosophical standpoints among others Included in this edition are two papers, ''Politics of Identity: Diversity and Exclusion in Africa" and "Identity Politics in South Africa: Lessons from the People" by Paulin Manwelo and Rob Thomson respectively., presented at the Arrupe College annual conference held on 11111 March 2006. The members of Chiedza editorial board express their gratitude to the contributors to this volume. We thank them for leading us in this project of rethinking and questioning nationalism. Nicholas Hamakalu SJ

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Reflecting upon and responding to the issues, events and experiences of daily life is an integral part of the project of philosophy and the other humanities. This dynamic of reflection and response, where life informs thought and thought in turn attempts to shape and direct life, is very much a part of the Arrupe College and Chiedza tradition. We are happy, therefore, to demonstrate continuity with this tradition in this edition of Chiedza that focuses on development, sustainability and the global order. The question of what issues, events and experiences have led us to ponder upon the theme for this edition is best answered by referring to Mr. Kofi Annan, the out-going Secretary-General of the United Nations. Mr. Annan personifies the theme of this edition of Chiedza and the successful completion of his tenure at the end of this month provides us an opportunity to pay him fitting tribute. This edition of Chiedza is therefore rightly dedicated to him and all other Africans who attempt at directing life holistically by seeking to provide a balance between development, sustainability and the global order. Mr. Annan's efforts, exerted with and through the United Nations, have aimed at achieving a more peaceful, integrally developed, and environmentally sustainable world. With vintage calm and impressive diplomatic acumen, Mr. Annan has worked at obtaining a global order that benefits all nations and peoples while at the same time challenging an ordering of the world that promotes socio-economic inequality and politico-cultural hegemony. Mr. Annan's principled stand against the United States-led war in Iraq in the face of great opposition bears glowing testimony to his character. Also, as Secretary General, Kofi Annan has convened inumnerable conferences and forums where issues of development and sustainability, often with a focus on alleviating the plight of persons in Third World, have been the main issues on the agenda. It is largely to his credit that the world today has a detailed roadmap for achieving certain developmental goals by 2015, expressed in the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. This edition of Chiedza presents views that further the project Mr. Kofi Annan so eloquently exemplifies. In this edition, issues of development, sustainability and the global order are engaged rigorously, critically, and dispassionately with the ultimate aim of having thought and reflection respond to and serve the ends and purposes of human life. Eric Wanyonyj depicts Africa's development as a conundrum and offers some recommendations for solving it. Augustine Ekeno makes a case for the village assembly as a measure for preventing and settling the various conflicts that adversely affect development in Africa. Corbinian K yara argues for the observation of moral principles in business in order to achieve rounded development in Africa. With respect to the issue of sustainability, IsaacEl Fernandes argues that the way forward for Africa lies in industrial ecology. Taking a global outlook, Edmore Mufema attempts to understand the sudden interest by China in Africa and subjects this relationship to intense scrutiny, emerging with some remarkable insights. David Kaulemu provides similarly outstanding insights in his discussion on how the interaction between the thought of Cornel West and Catholic Social Teaching can help us understand and respond to the present crisis confronting the Zimbabwean nation. Each of the contributions in this edition therefore depicts how holistic development, environmental sustainability, and a world ordered for the attainment of the common good are key concerns for Africans. This can hardly be surprising given the reality many Africans face daily of poverty, poor healthcare, lack of basic education, drought, poor harvest, marginalization, and exploitation. We cannot help but have our experiences direct our thoughts. Our inability to prevent our experiences from shaping our thoughts may explain in part the drive behind Kofi Annan 's efforts as Secretary-General of the United Nations. As a Ghanaian and an African, Mr. Annan was not oblivious of the harsh realities his fellow Africans face daily and could not have failed to recognize the opportunity such high office offered him of influencing policy towards bringing about some changes to their situations. His success and indeed the success of other persons of goodwill, African and non-African, working tirelessly for changes in the conditions of those representing the "black holes" of development, sustainability and the global order is what we salute in this edition of Chiedza. This issue of Chiedza also introduces a new feature that we hope will continue in our subsequent editions. Art criticism, an integral aspect of studio humanitatis. finds a rightful place in Chiedza as we publish the winning entry of an art essay competition held recently at Arrupe College. It is doubtless that art is an eloquent exlJression of the interaction between reflection and response. 1t is important to express a word of welcome to some new members of the Chiedza Editorial Board. To Gregory Mulobela, S.J., Allen Nchenamilo, SJ., Joseph Bulugu, S.J., and Victor Okanga, S.J., we welcome you with the hope that the interplay between life and thought, reflection and response, will direct the work you will carry out for this board. Thank you for your availability for service. Also to Nicholas Hamakalu, the previous Editor-in-Chief, an expression of gratitude is most befitting. Finally, we take this opportunity to wish you a blessed Cluistmas celebration and a fulfilling New Year. Happy reading!

Kpanie Addy, S.J.